Selective Catalytic Oxidation of Alcohols,Aldehydes, Alkanes and Alkenes Employing Manganese Catalysts and Hydrogen Peroxide

The manganese‐containing catalytic system [Mn^IV,IV₂O₃(tmtacn)₂]²⁺ ( 1 )/carboxylic acid (where tmtacn=N,N′,N′′‐trimethyl‐1,4,7‐triazacyclononane), initially identified for the cis‐dihydroxylation and epoxidation of alkenes, is applied for a wide range of oxidative transformations, including oxidation of alkanes, alcohols and aldehydes employing H₂O₂ as oxidant. The substrate classes examined include primary and secondary aliphatic and aromatic alcohols, aldehydes, and alkenes. The emphasis is not primarily on identifying optimum conditions for each individual substrate, but understanding the various factors that affect the reactivity of the Mn‐tmtacn catalytic system and to explore which functional groups are oxidised preferentially. This catalytic system, of which the reactivity can be tuned by variation of the carboxylato ligands of the in situ formed [Mn^III,III₂(O)(RCO₂)₂(tmtacn)₂]²⁺ dimers, employs H₂O₂ in a highly atom efficient manner. In addition, several substrates containing more than one oxidation sensitive group could be oxidised selectively, in certain cases even in the absence of protecting groups.

     

Synthesis of polyaniline/montmorillonite nanocomposites with an enhanced anticorrosive performance

Polyaniline/montmorillonite (PANI/Mt) nanocomposites (1–7% (w/w) Mt based on the aniline content) were synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization with a 73.4–75.8% monomer conversion level. Fourier-transform infrared and scanning electron microscopy analyses confirmed the presence of Mt incorporation into PANI, whilst X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the exfoliated structure and that PANI was intercalated between the Mt layers. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the thermal properties of PANI and PANI/Mt composites were enhanced with increasing Mt levels.     

Anti-Inflammatory Effects and Decreased Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps by Enoxaparin in COVID-19 Patients

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) are a contributing factor of vascular thrombosis and alveolar damage in COVID-19 patients. As enoxaparin is currently used to inhibit vascular thrombosis, this study aimed to investigate whether enoxaparin also reduced inflammation and NETs in COVID-19 patients. Patients with COVID-19 infection were classified into three groups: mild, moderate, and severe (n = 10 for all groups). Plasma was collected from patients and healthy donors (n = 10). Neutrophils isolated from healthy controls were incubated with COVID-19 or healthy plasma, and with or without enoxaparin pretreatment in vitro. Neutrophils and plasma isolated from patients treated with enoxaparin were also investigated. The levels of inflammatory cytokines and NET products such as dsDNA, NE, MPO–DNA and Histone–DNA complexes in plasma and supernatants were measured using immunofluorescence staining and ELISA kits. The expression of inflammatory signaling genes by neutrophils (RELA, SYK, ERK and PKC) was measured using real-time qPCR. The levels of NET products were elevated in the plasma of COVID-19 patients, particularly in the severe group (p < 0.01). Moreover, plasma from the severe group enhanced NET formation (p < 0.01) from neutrophils in vitro. Enoxaparin pretreatment in vitro decreased plasma-induced NETs in a dose-dependent manner and down-regulated the expression of inflammatory genes (p < 0.05). Patients treated with prophylactic enoxaparin showed lower inflammatory cytokine levels and expression of inflammatory genes (p < 0.05). Increased NETs were associated with the severity of COVID-19 infection, particularly in patients with severe pneumonia, and could be used as biomarkers to assess disease severity. Enoxaparin pretreatment inhibited NETs and reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines, and these effects mostly persisted in patients treated with prophylactic enoxaparin.     

Influence of reaction parameters on water absorption of neutralized poly(acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide) synthesized by inverse suspension polymerization

Highly water‐absorbing polymers of neutralized poly(acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide) were synthesized in an effort to investigate the influences of reaction parameters on water absorption. In addition, the extent of water absorption and the absorption rate were studied to determine their relationship with the reaction parameters. This article explains the synthesis technique, characterization of the water‐absorbing copolymers, and their properties. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 72: 1349–1366, 1999     

Dependence of zinc aluminate microscopic structure on its synthesis

Alumina doped with zinc oxide was synthesized by sol–gel method in alcohol solution. Hybrid oxides of aluminum and zinc were prepared from various aluminum precursors (aluminum sec-butoxide, aluminum nitrate, and aluminum isopropoxide) and zinc acetate solution with ethylacetoacetate and nitric acid as a chelating agent and catalyst, respectively. Types and molar ratio of the precursor to the chelating agent and acidic catalyst were found to remarkably affect the formation of transparent sol of aluminium–zinc sol composite. With relatively low temperature of 50 °C, the suitable molar ratio of aluminum sec-butoxide to ethylacetoacetate to nitric acid for preparing the homogeneous sol was 1:0.40:0.86. Furthermore, the calcination at elevated temperature higher than 400 °C would be essential for preparing ZnAl₂O₄ with the face centered cubic microstructure. The primary crystalline size of the synthesized zinc aluminate nanostructure was approximately 20 nm with lattice spacing of 0.55 nm.     

In situ microfibrillar‐reinforced composites of isotactic polypropylene/recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) system and effect of compatibilizer

Recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) from waste bottles (hereafter, rPET) was used as an reinforcing material for isotactic polypropylene (iPP) based on the concept of in situ microfibrillar‐reinforced composites (iMFCs). Microfibers of rPET were successfully generated during melt‐extrusion and subsequent drawing and preserved in the final injection‐molded specimens. The effects of draw ratio, initial size of ground rPET flakes, and rPET content on morphological appearance of the extrudates and the as‐formed rPET fibers and mechanical properties of the as‐prepared iMFCs were investigated. The results showed that diameters of the as‐formed rPET fibers decreased with increasing draw ratio, and the initial size of ground rPET flakes did not affect the final diameters of the as‐formed rPET fibers nor the mechanical properties of the as‐prepared iMFCs. Flexural modulus, tensile modulus, and tensile strength of iPP/rPET iMFCs were improved by the presence of rPET microfibers and further improvement could be achieved by the addition of maleic anhydride‐grafted iPP (PP‐g‐MA), which was used as the compatibilizer. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102:1173–1181, 2006